The story of âToscaâ surrounds a famous opera singer, Tosca, who is deeply religious and spiritual, yet passionate and fatally jealous. The opera comes to the Vilar Performing Arts Center on Thursday, Feb. 4.Special to the Daily |

If you go …

What: Teatro Lirico d’Europa in Giacomo Puccini’s opera “Tosca.”

When: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 4.

Where: Vilar Performing Arts Center, 68 Avondale Lane, Beaver Creek.

Cost: $75 for adults or $10 for students.

More information: Tickets are on sale now at the VPAC Box Office, by calling 970-845- 8497 or at www.vilarpac.org.

BEAVER CREEK — It’s a tale about an impulsive diva, a vicious police chief and a starry-eyed artist, and it all comes alive on stage at the Vilar Performing Arts Center, as Teatro Lirico d’Europa performs Giacomo Puccini’s exasperating and thrilling opera “Tosca” today at 6:30 p.m.

Regarded by scholars as Puccini’s most lethal opera, “Tosca” originally premiered in Rome in 1900 amid rumors of a possible bomb threat in the theater due to political unrest. The musical structure of “Tosca” emphasizes the story’s heated melodramatic encounters and tensions between characters, while at the same time has a fluidity that seamlessly threads the arias and choruses together. Teatro Lirico d’Europa’s production of “Tosca” last visited the Vilar Center in February 2008.

“We so appreciate being able to bring Teatro Lirico d’Europa back to our community,” said Kris Sabel, executive director of the Vilar Performing Arts Center. “And because we’ve been doing it consistently for so many years, we have a family of fans and donors who feel a real connection to the company.”

The story of “Tosca” surrounds a famous opera singer, Tosca, who is deeply religious and spiritual, yet passionate and fatally jealous. Her lover is Mario Cavaradossi, a sensitive artist, madly in love with Tosca, who courageously tries to help a condemned political prisoner. Tosca and Cavaradossi are caught in the web of the evil Baron Scarpia, chief of the Roman police and a power-crazy, sadistic killer. Scarpia is secretly in love with Tosca, and he is determined to possess her physically.

Teatro Lirico D’Europa was created in 1988 by the late Yves Josse, a former ballet divo and French arts promoter, and Giorgio Lalov, a young Bulgarian opera singer who made his debut at Teatro alla Scala, Milan, at the age of 25 while participating in Scala’s famous international training program for young singers. The collaboration between Josse and Lalov was a success in a very short time, resulting in tours with more than 250 performances a season throughout Europe.

For more information on the Vilar Performing Arts Center’s winter season and on this show, visit http://www.vilarpac.org.